Today, a repeat edition of the Guide to Law on Access to Information of Public Importance has been published.

The Commissioner for Information has published 20,000 copies of the Guide in cooperation with the „Official Gazette“, while a majority of the issue will be distributed directly to subscribers to the „Official Gazette“.   

In this occasion, the Commissioner, Rodoljub Sabic said:

„We can not be satisfied with the existing level of knowledge about the content and potentials of the Law on Access to Information. This assessment holds true also relevant to all structures, to citizens, journalists, media, but a special cause for worry is relevant to organs, i.e. representatives of authorities, therefore the ones who should hold the most responsibility for the quality of implementation of any Law, and therefore also this Law.

Regretfully, even almost two years after this Law has been passed, on a daily basis we are faced with examples of lack of knowledge about the content of the Law on the part of the authorities. There are frequent and surprising examples that demonstrate not only a lack of understanding of the essence of this Law, but also an apparent lack of knowledge about even the elementary issues of procedures. This state of affairs must change in the shortest possible time.

The repeat edition of the Guide is only one step in this direction. The Office of the Commissioner shall, as it has to date, within the limits of actual possibilities, undertake all within its power in the field of education, however, all organs of authority also need to do something. After all, this is also their direct legal obligation.“